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CZECH REPUBLIC
The Lisbon Treaty has finally been ratified by the Czech Republic, which means the text is now expected to come into force on 1 December. President Vaclav Klaus added his signature just hours after the treaty was given the go ahead by the Czech Constitutional Court. The Swedish Presidency of the EU is now expected to announce an extraordinary summit for mid-November, in which it will be decided who will be the President of the European Council, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, two new positions created by the treaty. Source: Euromat
AUSTRIA
The Austrian government is risking a daily ¤1.4m tax revenue shortfall due to its stalled gambling reform plans, incumbent monopolies Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries have warned. Source: GamblingCompliance.com
BELGIUM
The Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy has been chosen as the president of the European Council and European Commissioner Catherine Ashton from the UK has been selected as the EU’s foreign affairs high representative. The appointments have received mixed responses in Brussels at the choice of two candidates with relatively low profiles, however the President of the EU Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, praised the choices, saying the best personalities had been elected. Source: Euromat
BULGARIA
The Bulgarian government has imposed a 15 percent tax rate on all gambling activities in the country in a shock move described as “genocide” by one of the industry’s leading businessmen. Source: GamblingCompliance.com
CANADA
In a landmark move, three of Canada’s largest provincial lottery groups are to collaborate in offering online poker gaming across Canada starting next year. Source: GamblingCompliance.com
FRANCE
European Commission president José Manuel Barroso has confirmed that Michel Barnier, France’s former agriculture minister, is to replace Irishman Charlie McCreevy as European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services. Source: GamblingCompliance.com
GERMANY
Eight of Germany’s gambling cases are now confirmed to take place in the European Court of Justice in December, with the Interstate Gambling Treaty expected to come under intense scrutiny. The possible non-compliance of EU law in relation to the ban on internet gambling will be examined at oral proceedings now confirmed to take place on December 8 and 9. Even if the cases produce a positive result, current predictions suggest it will be 2012 at the earliest before the market in Germany is opened up to private competition. Source: Euromat
ITALY
The Cassazione High Court of Italy announced last week that it was referring a case involving UK bookmaker Stanleybet to the European Court of Justice, following a request from the company’s lawyer. In the past few months, Stanley has won a number of cases against the Italian authorities and will be hoping for another ruling in their favour. Source: Euromat
ITALY
The European Commission has given the green light for Italian authorities to implement their new gambling laws – debuted during the summer - that will allow online casino games, cash poker and VLTs. Source: GamblingCompliance.com
JERSEY
Plans to set up a gambling commission in Jersey have been put on hold amid concerns about the cost and details of how it would operate. Source: GamblingCompliance.com
THE NETHERLANDS
The European Court of Justice this week began hearings involving two UK gambling companies and the Dutch government. In the first case, Betfair lodged a complaint against a letter circulated among Dutch banks by the state, ordering them to block payments to and from British betting groups. Betfair has argued that this is in direct breach of EU free trade laws. The other case involves Ladbrokes and concerns an injunction imposed by the state preventing the company from accepting bets from its citizens. The case was referred to the ECJ earlier this year. It may take up to 6 months for a ruling in both cases. Source: Euromat
PANAMA
Panamanian gambling regulators are intensifying their examinations of gaming firms Thunderbird Resorts and Cirsa, while Panama-based Thunderbird has been forced to sell off assets in Peru in order to survive the global financial crisis. Source: GamblingCompliance.com
POLAND
Legislation imposing tougher restrictions and higher taxes on the gambling sector has been passed by Poland’s parliament. Source: GamblingCompliance.com
SPAIN
Spain’s national authorities are drawing closer to unveiling a first draft online gambling law, but observers warn that further progress will hinge on the attitudes of regional governments - some of which are already forging their own path towards regulation. Source: GamblingCompliance.com
SWEDEN
The Council Working Party on gambling and betting held its second meeting last week under the guidance of the Swedish Presidency. Representatives of the 27 Member States debated how they deal with gambling problems in their jurisdictions. The focus was on what kind of penalties were applied by Member States authorities on illegal/unauthorised gambling and betting providers and on the regulation of advertising of such unauthorised services. Working Party members were asked for their opinion on whether they believed it best to block unauthorised websites and/or block bank transactions. Another meeting is scheduled for November after which the Presidency will submit a report on all findings to the Competitiveness Council to be held in Brussels in December 2009. The next presidencies in line, Spain and Belgium, have indicated their intention to continue the discussions during their terms in office in 2010. Source: Euromat
TURKEY
The opening of a new racetrack by the Turkish government in a bid to revive the economy of a Kurdish region of the country marks a change in direction for a government more typically concerned with an anti-gambling agenda. Source: GamblingCompliance.com
UNITED KINGDOM
Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has brokered a national deal to finally settle the long-running pitches dispute between the UK’s racecourses and on-course bookmakers. Source: GamblingCompliance.com
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